New York-based technology and computing corporation, IBM, may be an American company, but its presence in the Netherlands is almost as old and well-established as the company itself. Since landing in the Netherlands in 1924, the company has grown to employ around 4,000 people in the country.
“Our presence in the Netherlands for the past 90 years is a crucial part of IBM’s business,” said Harry van Dorenmalen, Chairman of IBM Europe. “This is a triple-A, mature country in which to do business, which provides ample commercial, social and career opportunities for us and our employees.”
IBM also maintains a close connection with the Dutch government, and participates in several important public-private initiatives to drive innovation. “We are totally focused on innovations that support our ‘Smarter Planet’ strategy,” van Dorenmalen stated. “IBM is working with government, research institutions, and SMEs to conduct innovative research and development projects in areas such as Green Computing.”
IBM’s Groningen service center is an excellent example of this. With this service center, in collaboration with the city and Province of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, University of Groningen and the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), IBM ensures the next generation of IT talent undergoes world-class training, equipping students with advanced, high-demand skills.
“These key initiatives are happening in the Netherlands for a reason,” concluded van Dorenmalen. “The Dutch have a focus on innovation, and highly educated resources, which allow them to conduct groundbreaking research. These types of public-private partnerships are driving the right kind of solutions into the market.”
